WISN 12 News' investigation of locked-up dogs prompts actions

On Thursday, WISN 12 News revealed that scarred and mangled dogs rescued from a dog-fighting ring have been held in custody for 20 months, held as evidence behind a locked door of Kennel 3 at Milwaukee Area Domestic Animal Control Commission. Their plight has prompted outrage.

"I don't know if they've ever seen the sunlight for 20 months," said David Mangold of Save the Court Case Dogs.

Mangold worked to rehabilitate victims of dog fights in Chicago, but MADDAC told him no one can see the evidence dogs here.

"Have these dogs been out of this building since they were seized?" WISN 12 News reporter Colleen Henry asked.

"I won't answer that," said John McDowell of MADACC.

McDowell said Wisconsin statute requires the dogs seized in fighting cases remain in evidence while the prosecution is pending. If the case ends in a conviction, the law requires "the animal be disposed of in a proper and humane manner." It's a state-ordered death sentence for victims of dog-fighting.

"It's cruel and unusual for them, and our statutes make no sense whatsoever," state Sen. Tim Carpenter said.

Carpenter said their story prompted him to introduce a bill to make it easier for victims of dog fighting to be rehabilitated and adopted.

"It can take years sometimes for a court case to be resolved, and this would allow due process of a week, and the animal could be taken care of properly instead of being locked up in a box," Carpenter said.

The senator introduced a similar bill three years ago. He's calling on citizens to contact their legislators to push for a change in the law.

"Animal cruelty or keeping these animals caged up isn't a Democratic or Republican issue, it's the right issue," Carpenter said.

Mangold has created a Facebook page to support the court-case dogs. He wants change fast, before the dogs of Kennel 3 are too far gone. There is also an online petition.

"I've been following this from Day 1. I've been willing to walk them from Day 1, and every day that goes by it's driving me nuts," Mangold said.

In fact, both the police and the district attorney said there's no need to keep the dogs locked up here at MADACC. They've got DNA and photos to complete their prosecution, but they said only the legislature can act to change the law that keeps them locked up.

The Save the Court Case Dogs group is encouraging the public to show its support by attending MADACC's next board meeting, now scheduled for Thursday at 1:30 p.m.

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